Estonia - Country information

Official name of the country: Republic of Estonia Form of government: Parliamentary democracy Area: 45,227 km2 Population: 1,315,819 (Statistics Estonia, January 1, 2014) Official language: Estonian Capital: Tallinn Population of the capital: 433,000 Important economic and cultural cities: Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Narva.

Interesting facts about the country

According to the global air quality ranking issued by the WHO, Estonia enjoys the cleanest air in the world;

Estonia is a perfect tourism destination in combination with Scandinavia and/or Russia, either for a weekend city break with the focus on the capital of Estonia, Tallinn or as a tour around Estonia. A round trip through the Baltic States is also an option;

55% of Estonia is covered by forests, 20% by bogs. We have 1521 islands and islets;

Estonia's population ranks amongst the smallest in the world;

Compact layout of the city centre! Everything within walking distance. No need for public transportation. No traffic jams. International airport 10 min from city centre;

Rich cultural and historical heritage;

Estonia is a land rich in historic manor houses, and an increasing number of them have been renovated and converted to luxury hotels – set in beautiful grounds;

The whole territory of Estonia is covered with dedicated links and public internet points. More than 1000 public WiFi networks are officially registered;

„e-Estonia" is a term commonly used to describe Estonia's emergence as one of the most advanced e-societies in the world – an incredible success story that grew out of a partnership between a forward-thinking government, a pro-active ICT sector and a switched-on, tech-savvy population. Thanks to this success, Estonians and the Estonian state enjoy the advantages of a wide range of e-solutions that those living elsewhere can only dream of, and the nation has become an example for others who wish to follow the same path. We have developed into the most advanced e-society, bringing success stories like Skype and Transferwise into life.

TOP 5 gastronomic experiences: Kalev chocolates & marzipan – did you know that according to a medieval legend, marzipan was first made in Tallinn as a pharmaceutical experiment? The legend says that it also cures broken heart!; Vana Tallinn liqueur is the signature local drink and one of the most popular gifts to bring back home; The traditional black bread; Estonian traditional dessert kama; The great old sauerkraut, pork and black pudding is a vital part of every Christmas dinner in Estonia; Baltic Herring